Sports and Recreation

NHL Winter Classic: The History of Pro Hockey's Outdoor Games Since 2003

The NHL's latest outdoor game will be in Florida. But over 22 years, pro hockey's outdoor games have had a fascinating history. Here are the numbers that tell the story.

Winter Classic: Building An Ice Rink In Miami

The 2026 NHL Winter Classic will take place in Florida for the first time on Friday evening.

This annual outdoor hockey game held around the New Year's holiday is just one of several NHL games that have been held in the elements this century.

Let's take a look at the numbers behind the NHL's outdoor games.

(MORE: How Did The NHL Build An Outdoor Ice Rink In Miami)

43

The number of outdoor NHL games played over the past 22 years, since November 2003, according to league statistics.

0

The game time temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, in Edmonton, Canada, for the league’s first regular season outdoor game, the Heritage Classic, between the host Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 22, 2003.

EDMONTON, CANADA - NOVEMBER 22: Wayne Gretzky #99 and Mark Messier #11 of the Edmonton Oilers and Guy Lafleur #10 of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a picture with Janet Gretzky and her two sons after the Molson Canadien Heritage Classic Megastars Game on November 22, 2003 at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) — Wayne Gretzky #99 and Mark Messier #11 of the Edmonton Oilers and Guy Lafleur #10 of the Montreal Canadiens pose for a picture with Janet Gretzky and her two sons after the Molson Canadien Heritage Classic Megastars Game on Nov. 22, 2003, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada.
(Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)

38

The game time temperature in the most recent Winter Classic, Dec. 31, 2024, at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 31: In an aerial view players are seen skating during the first period of the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on December 31, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images) — In an aerial view players are seen skating during the first period of the Discover NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field on Dec. 31, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois.
(Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images)

2014

The year of the league’s first outdoor game played in a warm weather site, Jan. 25, 2014, at Dodger Stadium between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. The game time temperature was 62 degrees.

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 25: Slava Voynov #26 of the Los Angeles Kings and Dustin Penner #17 of the Anaheim Ducks (R) enter Dodger Stadium to play in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game on January 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images) — Slava Voynov #26 of the Los Angeles Kings and Dustin Penner #17 of the Anaheim Ducks (R) enter Dodger Stadium to play in the 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game on Jan. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles, California.
(Gregory Shamus/NHLI via Getty Images)

65

Game time temperature for the warmest outdoor NHL game, a Feb. 27, 2016, matchup at Denver’s Coors Field between the host Colorado Avalanche and the Detroit Red Wings. The high during the day before the game at Denver International Airport topped out at 72 degrees.

77

The average high temperature for Jan. 2 in Miami. Its average low is 62 degrees.

(FORECAST: Miami)

An NHL ice crew installs lines and logos on Monday, December 29, 2025, while preparations continue for the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) — An NHL ice crew installs lines and logos on Dec. 29, 2025, while preparations continue for the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
(Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)

-6

Game time temperature for the coldest outdoor NHL game on record, the Jan. 1, 2022, Winter Classic in Minneapolis between the host Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues. Given the cold, water bottles were filled with chicken broth according to the NHL.

38,619

The attendance at Target Field in Minneapolis for the 2022 Winter Classic, a sellout, despite the bitter cold.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild and staff stands on the bench during the 2022 NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild at Target Field on January 01, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) — Head coach Dean Evason of the Minnesota Wild and staff stand on the bench during the 2022 NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and the Minnesota Wild at Target Field on Jan. 1, 2022, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
(Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)

13

The number of outdoor NHL games played in temperatures below freezing. That’s only 30% of the league’s outdoor games in 22 years.

7

The number of games played in temperatures of 50 degrees or warmer. Those include games in Boston (Jan. 2, 2023; 51), Dallas (Jan. 1, 2020; 55), Winnipeg (Oct. 23, 2016; 50), Santa Clara, California (Feb. 21, 2015; 57), and Pittsburgh (Jan. 1, 2011; 50) in addition to the previously mentioned games in Denver and Los Angeles.

2

The number of iconic outdoor NHL games with significant falling snow. During the first New Year’s Winter Classic in Buffalo in 2008, 2 to 3 inches of snow prompted delays to clear snow from the ice.

ORCHARD PARK, NY - JANUARY 01: Snow falls on goaltender Ryan Miller #30 of the Buffalo Sabres during the NHL Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Ralph Wilson Stadium on January 1, 2008 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) — Snow falls on goaltender Ryan Miller #30 of the Buffalo Sabres during the NHL Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Ralph Wilson Stadium on Jan. 1, 2008, in Orchard Park, New York.
(Harry How/Getty Images)

105,491

The attendance at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, for the Jan. 1, 2014, Winter Classic between the host Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, the other iconic snowy outdoor NHL game. It remains a record attendance for a hockey game. The game time temperature was only 13 degrees and wind chills were near zero. Ann Arbor picked up 4 to 5 inches of snow on New Year's Day 2014.

January 1, 2013 - Ann Arbor, MI The snow crew clears the ice in the shootout period of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic - Maple Leafs v Red Wings (Photo by Steven King/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) — The snow crew clears the ice in the shootout period of the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Jan. 1, 2014
(Photo by Steven King/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been covering national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Reach out to him on Bluesky, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.